Liquid level actuated switch



Nov. 10, 1953 E. H. HURLEY 2,658,970

LIQUID LEVEL ACTUATED SWITCH Filed oct. 25, 1951 2 sheets-sheet I Nov.10, 1953 EH. HURLEY y LIQUID LEVEL ACTUATED SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet FiledOct. 25 195] Patented Nov. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIQUIDLEVEL ACTUATED SWITCH Earl H. Hurley, Corry, Pa., assignor of ten percent to Jerrold L. Lansberry, Corry, Pa.

Application October 23, 1951, Serial No. 252,761

(Cl. 20G-84) 3 Claims. l

This invention relates to a liquid level actuated switch and has for itsprimary object to enable the liquid level in a tank to be held at aminimum distance from the top thereof.

Another object is to avoid utilizing an unnecessary amount of spacewithin a tank and thereby to preserve to the maximum extent the capacityof the tank.

A further object is to enable the switch to be attached to the tank andgive access to the switch through an opening in the tank of minimumsize.

Still another1 object is to reduce the effective buoyancy of the floatas it approaches the upper limit of its travel and to thus utilize thecapacity of the tank to its fullest extent.

A further object of the invention is to utilize the magnetic neld of aneat supported magnet for actuating the switch.

The above and other objects may be attained by employing this inventionwhich embodies among its features an elongated hollow water tighthousing, a magnetically actuated switch mounted within said housing foradjustment vertically thereof, a float mounted on the exterior of thehousing for movement vertically thereon and a magnet carried by thefloat for influencing the movements of the magnetically actuated switch.

Other features include guides carried by the housing and extendinglongitudinally thereof on its exterior upon which the noat is supportedfor vertical movement with relation to the housing.

Still other features include a resilient stop car ried by the floatadjacent one end thereof for movement therewith, and a stop screwcarried by the housing for engaging the stop and arresting movement ofthe float and the magnet at a selected level.

Still further features include a switch of the type having a casing anda depressible button extending through said casing for controlling theswitch, means for actuating said button compris ing an elongated.bearing arm connected adjacent one end to said switch casing remote fromthe button, said bearing arm extending along said switch casing towardsaid button, a lever of magnetically responsive material pivotallymounted intermediate its ends on the bearing arm adjacent the endthereof remote from that which is connected to the switch casing, saidlever being movable in an arcuate path into and out of engagement withthe switch button and a screw threadedly extending through the bearingarm intermediate the ends thereof for engaging the switch casing andadvancing or retracting the lever relative to the button.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view through a liquid level actuatedswitch embodying the features of this invention,

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the switch illustrated in Fig. l,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View taken substantially along the line3 3 of Fig. l,

Fig. 4 is a side view of a modified form of switch housing showing twoswitches mounted therein in vertical alignment,

Fig. 5 is a side view of a further modified form of switch,

Fig. 6 is a further modification of the invention showing the switchesmounted in vertical alignment,

Fig. '7 is a transverse sectional view take substantially along the line'l-l of Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view through a further modification ofthe invention,

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional View taken substantially along the line9 5! of Fig. 8,

Fig. 10 is a side View in elevation of the float housing,

Fig. 11 is a top plan View of the float housing illustrated in Fig. 10,

Fig. l2 is a fragmentary front view of the switch casing andmagnetically responsive actuating arm,

Fig` i3 is a fragmentary sectional view through the structureillustrated in Fig. l2 .showing the manner in which the switch actuatinglever is mounted.

Fig. 14 is a horizontal sectional view through a float showing a modiiedform of mounting the magnet thereon, and

Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the linele-l of Fig. lll.

Referring to the drawings in detail this improved switch designatedgenerally IU comprises a supporting plate I2 which is adapted to beattached to the top of a conventional fuel tank.

Formed integrally with and depending from the plate l2 is a switchhousing i4 which is open at its top and is provided with a bottom WallI6 carrying an externally screw threaded stud I8 which depends axiallytherefrom. The only means of access to the housing I4 is through theopen upper end thereof, and secured to the side walls of said housingand extending longitudinally thereinto through the open top to thebottom it thereof is a transversely U-shaped insulater having in itsside flanges longitudinal rows of longitudinally spaced openings 22 withthe openings of one i'lange aligningr with those of the opposite frange.Mounted Within the housing !4 is a switch designated generally 24 whichis enclosed within acasing 26 through which extends actuating button 28by means of which the operation of the switch is controlled. The buttonZ is depressible and is normally yieldingly held outwardly so that theoperation of the switch may be effected simply by pressing the buttoninwardly. Carried by the housing I4 on the exterior thereof andprojecting outwardly from opposite sides are elongated verticallyextending guides 30 having inturned opposed anges 32, the purpose ofwhich will hereinafter appear. The side walls of the switch casing 26are provided adjacent one end with outwardly extending projections 34which are adapted to engage in the openings 22 of the flanges of theinsulator fit1. formed in the switch casing 2G in spaced relation. tothe projections 34 are aligned openings 3B for the reception of alocating nin 38 which projects through the openings and into selectedopenings in the insulator 20.

Carried by the casing 2B in spaced relation to the button 28 is a screwthreaded stud 40 on which is held a suitable nut 42 an arm 44. This armis provided adjacent its end remote from the stud 42 with a pair ofvertically exm tending horizontally spaced ears 46 which are providedwith aligning openings tor the reception of a pivot pin 48, and formedintermediate the ends of the arm 44 is an internally screw threadedopening 5G for the reception of a set screw 5?. which extends throughand threadedly the opening 50 with its point hearing on the casing 25 ofthe switch 24. A lever 54 of a magnetica v responsive material isprovided intermedl its ends with an elongated rectangular recess 56 andformed in said lever and extending therethrough adjacent one end of theopen- 56 therein are aligned openings 58 through which the pivot pin 48is adapted to extend in order to pivotally support the lever on thearm-44. Carried by the arm extending into the recess 56 therein is atongue El] which when the device is in place on the switch casing 26lies adjacent the depressible button 28, so that as the lever is movedabout its pivot the button will be engaged by the tongue B. Obviously amicrometer adjustment of the tongue B0 with relation to the button 28may be achieved by turnthe set screw 52, and altering thereby theposition of the pivot pin 48 with relation to the adjacent wall of thecasing 26.

Mounted for vertical sliding `movement on the guides and guide anges 32is a float 62 which is of circular cross section and has extendingtherethrough an elongated transverse opening E4 which illustratedextends around the houting I4. As shown the float encircles the housingani secured. to the oat as by bolts E6 is an elonhearing member 68having oppositely disposed longitudinally extending grooves 1li inopposite side edges thereof. An elongated magnet T2 is provided withspaced internally screw threaded openings for the threaded ends of thebolts (i6 and these bolts extend through spaced openings in the iioatbearing member 68 which 'align with the openings in the float and in themagnet, and threadedly engage threaded open'- ings which extend throughthe magnet so that when the screws BB are tightened, the float bear-Lil) ing or carriage 68 will be clamped against the float. Carried bythe upper end of the float is a yielding transversely extending stopmember 'i4 which may be formed of a flat strip of spring metal bent intosubstantially the shape illus trated in Fig. l, and threaded through aninternally screw threaded opening 76 formed in the cover plate i2 is ascrew 18 which aligns with the stop member so that the upward movementof the float may be arrested at a selected position by the screw 16.

A float housing 8U comprising a substantially cup-shaped member having abottom wall 82 is provided in the center of the bottom wall thereoflwith an opening 84 for the reception of the stud i8 so that uponplacing the housing 80 in substantially the position shown in Fig. l,and threading a nut 85 on the stud i8, the housing may be held incontact with the cover plate I2.

A suitable tting 83 is removably attached to the head or plate l2 inaxial alignment with the open upper end of the switch housing i4 and inone form of this invention, the iitting 88 is equipped with anexternally screw threaded nipple 99 which may be coupled to any suitablecon duit through which conductors leading from the switch Z4 may beextended.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 15, a floatdesignated generally 92 comprising a buoyant body 94 having a guideaccommodating opening 96 extending therethrough carries a magnet 98which is provided interinediate its ends and in the exposed side thereofwith a transversely extending groove IDU for the reception of the bightportion |02 of a staple ID4 which projects through the oat 94 and hasits ends turned outwardly as illustrated in Fig. le in order to securethe staple and magnet in proper position within the float.

ln the modified form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 5 instead ofthe iitting 88 I employ a fitting 83' which be provided on one side witha laterally projecting nipple Similarly in the modified form of theinvention illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 the switch contain ing housingand float guide designated I may be extended downwardly through theuppermost iioat housing Sii', and the housing it may bc equipped withvertically spaced switches E4 while the float housings iid' and containiioat mechanism corresponding to that previously den scribed. The floathousing Gti may be adjustably held on the switch housing i4 by clampingbands Sii". Alternatively two vertically spaced iioats may be mounted onthe float guide i4' and the float guide and floats may be enclosed in anelongated float housing Uta, so that a maenet carrying iloat mounted onthe iioat guide may progressively and sequentially actuate the switches.

ln certain instances it may be desirable to provide a switch housingitc, with laterally extending iianges 32a which form guides for sub--stantially semicircular doats ttc and 62h, each carrying its respectivemagnet lila, and '12b for operating on switches carried within thehousing' Md. Guide plates i320 and 62d are secured to the floats 62a andtilt for slidingly supporting the iioats 52a and 62h by means of pins62e and `iif on the housing Ma.

By using a switch housing of rectangular cross section the oats are heldagainst rotation and the magnets are retained in proper position toinfluence the switch levers.

In use a hole is drilled in the tcp of a tank and is of sufficientdiameter to receive the float housing 80 previously referred to with theplate I2 resting on the top of the tank. A switch 24 is then introducedinto the open upper end of the switch housing I4 and located at thedesired position by the dimples 34 engaging the walls of the openings 22and the extending of a pin 3B through the opening 3E. With the switchproperly located, and the arm 44 adjusted to a position which will bringthe tongue 60 of the lever 54 into the desired position relative to thebutton 28, the oat E2 moving on its guides 32 and carrying the magnet 72will cause the lever 54 to rock on its pivots as the float rises orfalls within the float chamber 80. The rocking of the lever 54 willdepress or release the button according to its direction of movement andthereby cause the switch 24 to be opened or closed. Obviously the upperlimit to which the float may move may be regulated by turning the screw'I8 and causing the inner end thereof to engage the spring tongue 74,thus giving a micrometer adjustment to the upper limit of movement ofthe float. Likewise by turning the set screw 52, a micrometer adjustmentof the engagement of the tongue 6d of the lever 54 relative to thebutton 28 may be secured.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferredembodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changesin the detailsr of construction combination and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a liquid level actuated switch an elongated transverselyrectangular hollow water tight housing, a magnetically actuated switchmounted within said housing for adjustment vertically 6 thereof, a iioathaving a rectangular opening extending therethrough for receiving saidhousing, said float being movable vertically on said housing and amagnet carried by the oat adjacent the housing for influencing themovements of the magnetically actuated switch.

2. In a liquid level actuated switch an elongated hollow water tighthousing, a magnetically actuated switch mounted within said housing foradjustment vertically thereof, guides carried by the housing andextending vertically on the exterior thereof, a float encircling thehousing and mounted on the guides for movement vertically thereonadjacent the housing, and a magnet carried by the float for movementtherewith between the float and the housing.

3. In a liquid level actuated switch an elongated hollow water tighthousing, a magnetically actuated switch mounted within said housing foradjustment vertically thereof, vertical guides carried by the housingand extending laterally from opposite sides thereof, a float encirclingthe housing and mounted on the guides for movement vertically thereonadjacent the housing, a magnet carried by the float for movementtherewith between the oat and the housing, a resilient stop carried bythe iloat adjacent one end thereof for movement therewith and a stopscrew carried by the housing for engaging the stop and arrestingmovement of the oat and magnet at a selected level.

EARL H. HURLEY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 355,815 Ghegan Jan. 11, 1887 2,448,251v Campbell Aug. 31, 1948

